Brighton the only thing standing in the way of an Arsenal Premier League title cruise
It's an increasingly relevant question: what, precisely, is there to stop Brighton doing something entirely extraordinary this season? That any answer to that question begins and ends with the word 'Arsenal' - and even then only tentatively - is testament to just how good they are.
They even had the foresight to land in the Conference this season so even the Thursday-Sunday schedule won't hurt them given how easily they should be able to steer a path into latter stages of that one. And to be honest, it would now be both major shock and stunning disappointment if they don't follow your West Hams, your Chelseas and the Crystal Palaces of this world in winning it.
The key to the whole thing lies not in Brighton's strengths - which are many and obvious and captivating - but in the near total lack of weaknesses. That's what's so rare for this kind of upstart effort.
There's usually something with a team attempting to massively upset the odds like this that gives you pause. Do they have enough goal threat?
And, if they do, is it over-reliant on one particular soon-to-be-spirited-away superstar? Are they quite good enough at the back?
What about the keeper, is he slightly dodgepot? And even if a team trying to turn 'Doing a Leicester' into 'Doing a Brighton' has answers to all of that, you'd usually at least have some reservation or other about the midfield.
Yet look for the flaw here, look for the thing that will cause second-place Brighton to 'revert to the mean' and fall away and there's just… nothing. This really does look like it is actually the mean.
There is nothing to revert to. There should be no falling away.
It doesn't mean it won't happen, but there's absolutely nothing about their current standing that feels streaky or unsustainable or unjustified. This is an extremely warm take, so get ready for it, butthey're second in the league because, based on what we've seen so far, they are simply the second best team in the country.